Hand steering-wheel.



F. E. SAINT CLAIR. HAND STEERlNG WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 23.1911- Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

V v INVENTOR 7 5 6L026 5U:

WITNESSES ATTORN EY rm]: E. samr mm, or woaLANn, w oiume.

1mm STEERING-WHEEL.

To'all whom it may concern:

-Be itknown that I, FRANK. SAINT CLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worland in the county of Washakie and State of I and useful Improvements in Hand Steering-Wheels, of which the following is a yoming, have invented new specification.

- This invention relates to hand steering thereby enabling the wheel to be manufacwheels the object in view being to provide a wheel of the class referred to, embodying a construction or formation whereby Water may be circulatedthrough the wheel for the purpose of] regulating the-temperature of said wheel in accordance with the desire and comfort of the operator of the vehicle in connectionwith which the Wheel is used.

' A further object of the invention is to.

provide means whereby the wheel may be adapted to machines of different makes,

tured and placed on the market as a stock article so that it may be applied to vehicles already in use oreasily altered for use in I facturer desiring to adopt the'same.

connection with the product of-any manu With the above andv other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel construc-.

tion, combination and arrangement of parts, herein. described,'i]lustrated and claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings:

' Figure 1 is a section through the improved f handsteering wheel, takenat right angles to the axis of movement of said wheel.

4 Fig. 2 is a diametrical section on the .line

' 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a to plan view of the stationary channeled member of the device. 7 Y The wheel contemplated in this inven tion is of tubular formation, comprising a rim or annular hand grip 1 of tubular'construction s as to provide an annular water circulation space.2. Diametrically opposite spokes 3 and 4 of said wheel are also of tubu lar construction so as to provide-water passages .6 and 7 which communicate directly with the annular waterspace 2 and which lead into the hub 8- where the passage 6 is expanded to form an arcuate portion 9 concentrio with the axis of the wheel, the other passage 7 being also expanded at its inner end I to form an arcuate portion 10 which is also concentric with the axis offthe wheel but located at a' slightly greater'dis'tance from the center of the wheel than the arcuate portion 9 above referred to. flow regulating Specification of Letters Patent;

' Patented Apr; 9, 1918.

' Application filed Jamares, 1917. Serial m. 143,980.

valve or cook is associated with the spoke 3 so that if desired, the flow of water through the wheel may be cut off or regulated in accordance with the desire of the operator.

In conjunction with the hub of the wheel, a stationary bearing plate 12- is employed and the same is mounted in fixed relation to.

the uppper extremity of the steering column or tubular outer casingthrough which the steering shaft and other controls pass. The plate 12 isformed in the upper side thereof with annular grooves 13 and let concentric with the center of the wheel, the annular channel or groove 13 being in communication with a port 15 in the hub of the wheel, and the channel or groove 14: being incommunication with a similar port 16 in the hub 8. Communicating with the channel 13 is a water pipe 17,.another water pipe 18 com- 7 municating w1t h the channell, thus enabling water to be led to and from the wheel. The arcuate portions 9 and 10 of the water passages in the wheel, allow for the turning movement of said wheel without cutting ed the flow of water through the water spaces of the wheel.

19 designates a disk -shaped plate or closure. for the upper face of the hub 8. Said cylindrical boss 20 whichfits' into a correfa'stened'to the hub 8 by screws or fasteners of any desired or preferred type. The handsteering wheel. usually sits at anangle arid in order to drain water therefrom, a drain plug 22 is threaded into an opening in the lowest portion thereof as shown in Fig.2. The pipes 17 and 18 may connect with the hot water circulatory system of a motor vehicle at any convenient point so that hot water may be led through the rim or annular hand grip of the steering wheel and bymeans of the regulating valve or cock 11, a greater or plate or closure is formed with a central f spondingly shaped recess'21 in the center of the hub 8. The plate or closure19 is tightly less amount of water may be allowed to cir-- culate through the wheel in accordance with the temperature desired by the operator. The device will be found a valuable and comfortable adjunct especially in the winter season, keeping the hands of the operator warm and even enabling him to dispense with the use of gloves and thereby have'better control at all times over the vehicle.

As shown in Fig. 1"the wheel comprises only two spokes arranged in the same diametrical line and these spokes are usually arranged in line with the longitudinal axis of. the machine, When the steering Wheels are in a straight away position. This adds to the comfort of the operator in steering the machine. The member 12 may be provided with a groove to receive a pachng ring 23 to pre vent leakage when wear takes place between the meeting faces of the members 8 and 12.

. I claim v A hand steering Wheel comprising a rim of tubular formation forming an inclosecl annular ater passage, diametrically opposite spokes also oftubular formation providing other. Water passages communicating I and. sealing said slots.

with the first named passage'of saidl rim, a

hub having arcuate concentric slots in com-- munication with the passages of the tubular Water pipesleauing to and from said annu lar channels, the latter being in counicai tion with the passages in said spokes, and. a

cover plate fastened to the top of said hub In testimony whereof ainy signature.

FRANK nisnrn'r omits; 

